Oliver Wendell Holmes' The Professor at the Breakfast Table: "Death tugs at my ear and says, 'Live. I am coming."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born on August 29th 1809. Among his many talents were those of physician, poet, professor, lecturer, and author. Here we concentrate on his writing. He was regarded by many of his peers - including such luminaries as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell - as one of the finest writers of their times. A great compliment indeed. As a poet he is considered to be one of the Fireside Poets and indeed his poems are works of real ta...